To clash or not to clash? That is the question. I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t always brave enough to mix prints the way I’ve seen in magazines and on street style stars but the more I saw it being done the more I fell in love with the look of mixing multiple patterns in a outfit. I’m still new to the print mixing life but I do have a couple of tips for beginners who want to try the look.

1) Stick with the same colors and tones. Keeping your prints in the same color family helps to create a cohesive look. Start out with neutrals if you want to ease into this style of dressing.

2) Size Matters. Playing with prints of different proportions adds interest to a look, so pair bigger bolder prints with smaller daintier prints. Also sticking to the same print (floral, checked, polka dot etc..) in different sizes and tones helps you to not look overwhelmed by your clothes.

3)Find a common color. When mixing prints find a base color in both prints thats pulls the look together. Seeing the same color repeated in both prints is another way to bring the look together. Here the black in the leopard print and the shoes are the common color.

4) Forget the rules and do what you want. You only live once!

Are you into mixing prints? If so which ones are your favorite to pair together?

If you told me last year that I would become obsessed with Jordans I would have given you the side eye. Me? The girl who owns more heels than practical walking shoes? You have the wrong one. Don’t get me wrong I love sneakers as well and I always kept a few in my arsenal for when I wanted to switch it up, but I wasn’t downloading apps and counting down until release dates either. It wasn’t until I met the sneaker king himself “Finesse” whose love for a good pair of kicks matched my love for things like blazers and leopard print, his sneaker collection is pretty damn impressive and I’ve only seen some of it. We’ve spent hours talking about fashion and during that time he taught me a lot about the sneaker culture and before I knew it I fell in love with Jordans, specifically the Air Jordan 1.

The first pair I got were these Retro High OG’s in black, white, and gold with the gum bottom (I love gum bottoms), black and gold is also one of my favorite color combo’s so when I saw these I fell in love. I buy my sneakers in kids sizes because I have smaller feet and its cheaper! I also got the black and gray “Shadows” that came out a couple of months back which I think I might love even more. The shape of the Air Jordan 1 is part of the reason I really like these sneakers I can wear them with anything from jeans and cargo pants to skirts and dresses and it looks dope, at least in my opinion and that’s the most important one. I definitely have plans on growing my collection going forward I’m a girl who likes to switch it up regularly and I think I found a style thats going to be a staple in my wardrobe.

What kind of girl are you? Do you prefer sneakers or heels? Or do you wear them both? Comment down below and let me know.
Happy Friday!

We’ve all heard the saying “when you look good you feel good” and that goes for your health and how you look physically as well as what you wear. It sounds a little shallow but what you wear can say a lot about you, it helps express various moods and individuality. I’ve been struggling with my body image for the past few months after losing 27 pounds due to kidney failure and being on dialysis, needless to say I haven’t been feeling like myself and this feeling often translates to how I dress. Sweats, leggings, hoodies, and t-shirts have pretty much been my go to choices due to the overwhelming need for comfort (as well as camouflaging the catheter in my neck) but to be honest I am still uncomfortable. My clothes don’t fit and I don’t feel like myself. Getting dressed is usually my favorite part of the day because my style is heavily based on my mood but most days I’ve been serving sweatpant realness and to be honest I’m over myself. And to be even more honest I HATE getting dressed now which makes me sad because fashion and style is everything to me and my clothes shouldn’t feel like the enemy. I swear it takes me hours sometimes days just to find a outfit I feel somewhat comfortable in for blog posts and even then I’ve adopted the “fake it till you make it” philosophy and take the pictures even though I think I look like shit. Having this negative relationship with my clothes right now sucks and I’m sure we’ve all felt insecure about our body image before but the important thing is to not stay stuck. I see people like fashion blogger Kyrzayda Rodriguez (@kyrzayda_ on Instagram) who is battling stage 4 cancer and through everything she continues to push through her struggles with her own body image and does it so gracefully. We both love fashion and she has refused to let her health stop her from getting dressed and looking her best and she is a major inspiration for me to really push myself as far as my blogging is concerned.

I need to get back to who I am when it comes to my personal style and I’m going to do that by focusing on the pieces in my closet that make me feel comfortable and confident. Whether I am 140 or 113 I need to love my body because I only get one and self love is so important. If you’re struggling with your body image focus on the positive and make a conscious effort to change the things you don’t like, and remember the change won’t happen overnight but it will definitely happen.

I’m going to push myself to get back to the old me and I hope you guys push yourself out of your fashion comfort zones or any comfort zones moving forward. Happy Friday!

Have you ever looked at all of the clothes in your closet and still felt like you had nothing to wear? Same. That doesn’t mean that its time to go on a shopping spree though, sometimes you have to shop your own closet to create the looks you’re trying to serve. I can’t tell you how many items in my closet I forget I have and when I come across them I instantly start creating new looks in my head. My number one rule for shopping your closet is to SWITCH IT UP! If the last time you wore that dress it was for a fancy occasion switch it up and make it casual. Add sneakers and a denim jacket to turn a night look into a day look. Or a layer a sweatshirt on top and turn that dress into a skirt. Hair and makeup also play a big part in changing up your look so if you wore your hair down the first time put it in a low bun or a top knot. Had on minimal makeup? Go full glam with a bold lip and lashes! Accessories are also a instant game changer so play around with those as well.

The last time I wore this slogan tee from Zara on the blog I paired it with a gingham skirt and ankles boots. This time around I wore jeans, a blazer, minimal heels and a baker boy hat. Remember what I said about accessories? The hat gave this look a whole different vibe and finding new ways to wear items you already own is the fun part of fashion. Happy Monday!

When spring is in the air everyone including myself wants to revamp their wardrobe, I don’t know if its the nice weather, the new trends, or both that inspire the change but something sets us off. However in the midst of fanny packs, dad sneakers, berets and more I think it is important that we remember the power of our basic items. A simple t shirt and a good pair of jeans are the basics that I can’t live without, they are also the base of so many cool outfits just add accessories and go! I used to underestimate the power of a simple foundation but as I got older and I started to dabble in the art of layering I realized those bomb ass layered outfits usually start with basic pieces. My current favorite look when I’m feeling lazy is a cute slogan tee with a great pair of jeans. Add statement earrings, a bold lip, heels or sneakers and its a look honey!

I never thought I would see the day that fanny packs came back into style, I also should have known better because EVERYTHING comes back into style. Whether you call it a fanny pack, a belt bag or a “bum bag” the trend has been revived and is all over the runways and in these streets. Even though I love to experiment I was going to pass on this trend to be honest. I like the look on other people but I wasn’t sure how I would feel about it on myself and I try to stay away from anything that feels too trendy and overdone.

However the convenience of being hands free and the super cute styles were slowly but surely sucking me in and then BOOM! My cousin buys me one for my birthday. Naturally I put it on and wore it around the house for a few hours because how else does one test drive a trend? After thinking of multiple outfits and double checking the mirror to make sure I didn’t look like a complete fool I decided to get on board. I’m definitely here for the revival and plan on styling a lot more looks this spring and summer. My only advice would be not to break the bank with this trend because it probably won’t be around next season, but if you could care less about trends and this makes sense for you to invest in for your wardrobe then do you boo!

Happy New Year everyone! I’ve been into skincare a lot more the past few weeks now that the weather has changed, if you live in New York then you know how brutal winter can be and our skin often feels the effects of the cold weather the most. Since I am not a fan of dry skin I go the extra mile with my overall skincare routine to make sure my skin is still well taken care of. Here are few of my current favorites listed below.

1) Mario Badescu Facial Spray – I am absolutely OBSESSED with this stuff. I spray it on before I moisturize and I also use it after I do my makeup to help any powders melt into my skin. There is a cucumber and green tea scent as well as a rose water and both smell amazing! You can keep the smaller size in your bag to refresh the skin throughout the day.

2) IT Cosmetics Confidence In A Eye Cream – I used to think eye cream was only for older women until I too began to age slowly but surely. Not only am I getting older but I am a concealer whore and dry under eyes do NOT mix well with concealer. Once again New York winters are brutal and the skin around your eyes is the thinnest on your face, so show it some love with a good hydrating eye cream. This is the first eye cream I’ve tried and although I don’t see a major brightening affect I do feel like my under eye is hydrated and my concealer application is super smooth.

3) Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Cream – I’ve been wanting to try the Clinique moisturizer for a while now and I must say I’ve been impressed. It leaves my skin super soft and I don’t feel dry at all, there are some moisturizers that leave you wondering what’s the point because you still feel dry. This isn’t one of those. If you have normal to dry skin this is a good option for you. The cream is thicker than the lotion which I like for this time of year but I’ll probably switch to the lotion during the spring and summer months.

4) MAC Prep + Prime Essential Oil – After interning for Marie Claire in the beauty department I became a fan of facial oils. I have a few I want to try but right now I am using this one from MAC and I love it. I put it on after my moisturizer to help lock in the moisture, the same way I would do with my hair when I seal my ends with an oil. Not only does it smell good (it has a light citrus scent) but my skin hydrated and I swear my makeup looks even better! I have a healthy glow and I’m all about the glow honey.

5) MAC Strobe Cream – Speaking of the glow this last product isn’t necessary but it will add extra hydration and make your skin look luminous before you even apply your highlighter. I put it on underneath my foundation or I just put it on the top of my cheekbones as a base for my powder highlighter.

What are are some of your winter skincare favorites? Comment down below!

November is Diabetes Awareness Month so expect to see me wearing a lot of blue in my upcoming blog posts. Today I am getting a little personal about my diabetes which is rare but necessary for me at this point in my life.

Extreme thirst, frequent urination, and fatigue. Those are the three symptoms that I remember leading up to my diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes at 12 years old. Some days I would just stand in the kitchen with the water running drinking glasses back to back but it was never enough. I couldn’t quench my thirst. This went on for a while and even though I thought it was weird I was more concerned with things like my crush at the time and what to wear to school the next day, my priorities were obviously in order. One day I had really bad stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting (something I would become all too familiar with over the years) and I knew something wasn’t right. My mother asked if I wanted to go to the hospital and I said yes, everything was really a blur because I was in so much pain. I had to give a urine sample in the ER and when the doctor brought it back he told us I tested positive for juvenile diabetes. Shit just got real.

I cant tell you how many times I cried in the hospital during that week, there was so much information to take in and I just didn’t want to deal with it. Learning all about insulin injections, finger sticks, and counting carbs was just the beginning. I practiced giving injections on a yellow sponge similiar to one you would use to wash dishes, but that didn’t compare to doing the injection on myself. When it was time to do it for real I cried…again. No amount of tears was going to change the fact that this was now my life and I had to grow up in the blink of an eye. What twelve year old was mentally prepared to take on diabetes and everything else that comes with an invisible illness? I sure as hell wasnt. Over the years I struggled A LOT with my diabetes and looking back I realized I was angry and I took that anger out on myself by not not taking care of my health the way I should have. I spent a lot of time in and out of the hospital battling with my diabetes but really battling with myself. I wanted to be “normal” so bad, I was ashamed of my diabetes and I felt like some people took pity on me which I hated. I wish I knew then what I know now because I would have been more kind to myself in so many different ways.

It took me a long time to get here, I’ve been to hell and back but I’m currently at a place where I am comfortable with my diabetes. I still have my struggles because diabetes is a tough disease but I do my best everyday. I’ve never openly discussed my health and there are things I will never share and things that people will never understand unless they are also diabetic. But I do think I am ready to be more vocal about diabetes and show people that it doesn’t stop us from living our lives just like everyone else. Limitations have been put on me countless times but I pay them no mind. I’m still setting goals and smashing the hell out of them all while juggling pricking my finger, counting carbs, giving injections, and doctors appointments. I want people to be more aware and educate themselves about both types of diabetes because the diagnosis has become very common. If anyone is reading this and happens to be newly diagnosed or knows someone who is struggling with their diabetes I just want to let you know that it gets better. Always put yourself and your health first, make sure you have a solid support system, and know that everyday will be different. You just have to count your blessings and stay strong!

I think by now we have all heard about Rihanna dropping her Fenty Beauty line during fashion week, if you haven’t you’re living under a rock. I honestly didn’t know what to expect from the collection even after her teaser videos on Instagram I still wanted to hear and see actual reviews on the products. I watched multiple reviews on YouTube, looked at swatches, and stalked beauty gurus on Instagram to see the looks they created. It was so crazy to see how this launch shook up the beauty industry, the collection launched with 40 shades of foundation (and more to come!) and really took into consideration the variety of undertones in our complexions. As an African American woman I know the struggle of finding a foundation shade and I’ve heard the complaints from my friends who have even darker skin tones than my own. So to see that she thought of everyone made me even more excited to try it out.

The foundation is a soft matte finish and it pretty much sets itself so unless you are super oily you don’t need to powder. Not only was the application flawless but it looked and felt just like my skin! If you wear makeup you know that sometimes you can feel the products sitting on your face which I hate. The foundations I own are pretty light in coverage and mostly water based because I hate that feeling, I also have pretty good skin so full coverage isn’t necessary. I will say that you shouldn’t guess what color you would be in this foundation because there are so many different undertones that you may be wrong. I tried 2 shades before finding my perfect match in shade 360.

The match stixs come in 20 shades that you can buy separately or in a trio, I purchased the trio in Tan 300. The concealer shade is lighter in coverage than what I am used to but it’s good for your everyday look, and the contour shade in Truffle is perfect for everyday as well. I struggle with contour shades for some reason but I love the way this one looks on me. Products that come in stick form can either be too dry and hard to blend or too creamy but I felt that these were the perfect consistency. The star of the trio in my opinion is definitely the highlight in rum, I can’t get over how beautiful this looks on my skin. I’ve already decided it will be my highlight for work because of how wearable it is and when you layer the killawatt highlighters on top you will get your ENTIRE life!

All in all I am really impressed with Fenty Beauty, it will definitely be in heavy rotation in my makeup collection. Any foundation that keeps me looking flawless for over 8 hours is good in my book. I will be trying out more products from her line as it expands and I look forward to adding them to my collection.

I’ve always been a fan of the color red it’s my personal power color and whenever I wear it I feel confident, which is obvious because you don’t wear red to blend in. It is also one of my favorite pops of color in an outfit so you can imagine my excitement when I saw red all over the runways and trend boards for this season. This trend is not for the faint of heart but if you want to try it out start off small with shoes and accessories. I paired a simple tshirt and high waisted jeans (my new uniform) with these red patent boots from Miss Selfridge that I will be wearing the hell out of from now on. Not only do they have a chunky heel which I love but they’re super comfortable for walking around in New York. You can also do a pair of red statement earrings or a red bag if you want to keep it subtle, but if you’re anything like me a full on red monochrome look is in the near future! Click the links to shop the look below.